My wife was friends with this guy. Not too many folks go toe to toe with a Kodiak and all he had was a knife. Not the biggest bear but gene was in his 60’s when it happened.
My wife rugged the bear for him. His story is amazing.
Dont ever give up in a fight
Wow he was lucky. Thanks for posting.
Always, always, always have the rifle with you and situational awareness, looking around as you’re dressing your game, work fast but look around, cause that’s how quick and sneaky prey can come up on you when you’re not paying attention and even when done and walking away with your meat aways be alert and ready with your loaded firearm. Prey can smell fresh kill a long way away and come running quick for a free lunch. Always remember, you’re in their turf! And don’t hunt ALONE! 
Always expect the unexpected!
“When a Pine Needle falls in the forest, the Eagle sees it, the Deer hears it, the Bear smells it, and the Wolf feels it".
Native American proverb
You got that right, and Native Americans are truly great hunters. I know, because I have many Native American friends here in NM.
I live in Oregon and I still carry a .44 revolver when hunting. Biggest thing I might run into would be a Black Bear or mountain lion, can’t imagine being in Kodiak country hunting without one on me.
Not alot of residence hunters carry a back up hand gun. Some due but generally they dont.
Sometimes i would carry my 3” 629 but it depends on the hunt. How far im going played a big part. The weight can play a factor.
Hunter preference. One of my bear hunting partners was in his 60’s, i dont even think he owned a handgun except a 22.
“Tough old birds”. I can hear the energy from their souls, as when he spoke in the video.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog”.
My niece just invited us to her family’s home for Easter supper. She lives in a small Midwestern town; Where she’s at, it’s not what anyone would call “rural”. But they hear coyotes howling each evening.
There’s a story of a black bear spotted once nearby, the bears don’t live there, they just pass through, though very seldom. But my niece said she once saw a wolf outside her home; Can’t wait to hear that story when we visit.
Unarmed and helpless is the choice of a fool. Unarmed and helpless in grizzly bear country is the choice of a complete idiot. - Uncle Ted
Only time I carried a handgun in the field was if I didnt have a rifle…but that was rare.
Way too much weight when hiking in 10 miles plus to hunt.
When I did carry a handgun it was my 4" 686 with 180gr buffalo bores.
I definitely wouldn’t feel undergunned with a hot 10mm
Oh and the author said a brain shot is the only way to kill a bear, partially right. We called it a CNS shot, which included the upper spinal cord. Hence the central nervous system shot.
WOW WOW 
!!! Incredible!!!
Gene was a very humble, down to earth guy. He knows he screwed up but you cant gut a deer while holding a rifle. He brought in his knife after he got out of the hospital and retold his story.
His bear was taken by F&G since it was a DL&P bear. Wife went with him to the auction to buy it back. She rugged it for him.
He was a real nice guy, he was mad cuz his daughter banned him from Kodiak after that hunt
